Faith

Focus on mercy is Catholic-Lutheran common ground, says Kasper

May 19, 2016

VATICAN CITY – The ecumenical commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017 can be a time to celebrate the fact that Christians are no longer "on the path of separation, but that of unity," said Cardinal Walter Kasper, former president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Those exploiting cheap labour are ‘leeches,’ Pope says

May 19, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Human traffickers and unjust business owners who become wealthy by exploiting others for cheap labour commit a mortal sin, said Pope Francis.

Call to study female deacons just one part of Pope’s review of role of women in Church

May 19, 2016

An exclusive focus on whether or not women might be ordained deacons misses the real point of the conversation Pope Francis had with leaders of 900 orders of nuns May 12 at the Vatican, said a Canadian sister who was present for the gathering.

To ignore the poor is to despise God, pope says at general audience

May 18, 2016

VATICAN CITY – How Christians treat the poor is the clearest demonstration of their relationship with God, Pope Francis insisted.

Top nun pushes for women deacons, greater role for Catholic women

May 18, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Catholic sisters globally would be better-equipped to carry out their work if they could become deacons, the head of a global network of nuns has said, an important marker in the sharp debate over women deacons that Pope Francis opened last week.

We can’t discount there is intelligent life elsewhere

May 18, 2016

TORONTO – Is there intelligent life outside of our planet? It’s possible, said Fr. Thomas O’Meara.

Service, not power, is the true Christian path

May 17, 2016

Saying Jesus' path is serving others, Pope Francis urged Christians on Tuesday to overcome the lure of worldliness and human ambition and warned against social climbers who are tempted to destroy the other in order to reach the top. His remarks came during his homily at the morning Mass celebrated in the Santa Marta residence.

Gift of the Spirit renews our relationship with God (Pentecost Sunday)

May 16, 2016

“I will not leave you orphans” (Jn 14:18). The central purpose of Jesus' mission, which culminated in the gift of the Holy Spirit, was to renew our relationship with the Father, a relationship severed by sin, to take us from our state of being orphaned children and to restore us as his sons and daughters.

Christians seek unity, those who sow weeds divide

May 12, 2016

Jesus prays for the unity of Christians, but within the Church there are those who sow weeds (It: zizzanieri), those who divide and destroy the community with their tongues. That was the message of Pope Francis at the morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta.

Rosary making turned into life’s ministry

May 11, 2016

TORONTO – It is a collection of beads hung on a chain or a piece of rope, anchored by a cross. The rosary may not look like much but it is one of the most powerful spiritual weapons Catholics can carry.